Businessman Eddie Matta remembered for devotion to family, Brockton

Sunday

Apr 13, 2014 at 7:36 PMApr 14, 2014 at 6:55 AM

Edward 'Eddie' Matta, a former chief engineer for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Brockton, Brockton businessman, and married father of four and grandfather of five, died Tuesday after a brief illness, his family said. He was 87.

And Matta, an electrical engineer and World War II and Korean War veteran, would always help others, said Tartaglia, his friend of five decades. The two would have breakfast together most mornings at Jack’s Breakfast on Belmont Street.

“You’d say, ‘Eddie, is this structurally sound?’ He’d say, ‘I’ll take a look at it,’” Tartaglia, longtime owner of George’s Cafe on Belmont Street, recalled Sunday. “He was very smart. He had every license you could get. He really served a lot in the City of Brockton, in the background. You rarely heard his name, but he was there.”

Edward ‘Eddie’ Matta, a former chief engineer for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Brockton, city businessman, and married father of four and grandfather of five, died Tuesday after a brief illness, his family said. He was 87.

Matta served in various roles in the city, including as a former chairman of the Brockton Board of Appeals and of the Brockton Parking Authority, and as former president of the Massasoit Community College Scholarship Foundation. He also served on the building committee for the massive new Brockton High School on Forest Avenue, which opened in 1970.

But he was perhaps best known as the patriarch of a family of female dance performers. Matta was co-owner of the dance studio he opened in 1956 with his wife, the Shirley Matta Dance Academy and Brockton School of Gymnastics, on North Warren Avenue.

Matta was the man behind the scenes at countless dance recitals held at Brockton High School. With his wife, Shirley, he cheered on their four daughters, all of whom competed in beauty pageants.

“The world revolved around us girls, his grandchildren, his wife,” said his daughter, Lisa Matta-Paze, 55, of Bridgewater. “He was the most dedicated man I’ve ever met in my life.”

Matta encouraged city youth to attend college, and live their dreams, his daughters said.

“He wanted an education for everybody,” another daughter, Lori Matta, 50, of Florida, said. “He didn’t care what color, what race. It was always for the kids.”

His youngest daughter, Lesli Matta, 40, of California, said Matta was “a first class father” who never hesitated to help others.

“Everyone always came to him. He was a problem solver. He was so many things,” she said.

A graduate of Brockton High School, Matta held bachelor’s degrees in marine and electrical engineering from Massachusetts Maritime Academy and in business administration from Boston College, his family said.

He formerly worked as a senior engineer with Bethlehem Steel’s Shipbuilding Division in Quincy.

He served as a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy and also in the naval reserve, accruing more than 30 years of commissioned service.

In 1968, the Brockton Veteran’s Council selected Matta as the Veteran of the Year for his years of community service.

“He was a hardworking guy. He was a fun guy,” said Ward 4 Councilor Paul Studenski, 66. His late father, former mayor Paul V. Studenski, knew Matta well.

Studenski and others would often see Matta, who was Lebanese American, at “haflis,” outdoor festivals held in the city’s parks that featured Lebanese cuisine and music.

“He just did so much for the community, for the church,” said Charlie Nessralla, 78, of Avon, who grew up with Matta.

Margo Asack of Brockton, a lifelong friend, said she and Matta served as parish board members at St. Theresa’s Maronite Catholic Church at 343 North Main St.

“He was just a sweetheart, he really was,” Asack, 87, said. “Especially when it came to the church, he’d say, ‘What can I do?’ He’d give you the shirt off his back. He really would.’’